2024’s office boom: What last year’s trends tell us about the workplace revival

As we set sail into 2025, it’s worth reflecting on 2024 to uncover what lies ahead for the office in the new year. One trend stands out: the return to in-office work is gaining momentum. Nationwide, office foot traffic has climbed steadily, reflecting evolving workplace dynamics and the persistence of in-person collaboration. Here's what the data tells us about this year’s office trends, broken down by growth patterns, city leaders and industry standouts.

A year of growth: Nationwide trends in office attendance

In 2024, office foot traffic grew by an impressive 15.93% year-over-year compared to 2023. This steady increase underscores a growing shift back to the workplace. Quarterly breakdowns show consistent growth throughout the year, with a spike specifically in Q2:

• Q1: +14.76%
• Q2: +16.03%
• Q3: +16.46%
• Q4: +16.45%

The data reveals not just recovery but sustained office attendance as employees embrace hybrid and in-office models.

The city showdown: Where foot traffic is soaring

San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles remain the key players, boasting the highest volume of employee office entries overall. Growing hubs like Austin and San Jose are also making waves with their strong presence in the tech industry:

• Austin (56%)
• Washington, D.C. (25%)
• San Francisco (24%)
• San Jose (23%)
• New York City (18%)
• Los Angeles (11%)

The real surprises come from cities seeing the biggest increase in employee office entries. Smaller or historically overlooked hubs like Oakland and Denver are leading the charge:

• Oakland (71%)
• Denver (70%)
• Austin (56%) 
• Portland (54%)
• Chicago (44%)
• Seattle (40%)

These figures suggest that tech growth and shifting workforce dynamics are not confined to traditional urban centers.

Industry trends: Growth across the board, with professional services leading the charge

The data reveals a diverse landscape of return-to-office strategies, with sectors like professional services exhibiting a strong preference for in-person work, likely driven by client interactions and collaborative needs. Manufacturing also saw a significant uptick in office traffic. In contrast, tech and media companies are embracing hybrid models, prioritizing flexibility while fostering innovation through targeted in-office collaborations.

What this means for 2025

As we look ahead, the consistent rise in foot traffic shows no signs of slowing. Cities like Austin, Oakland, and Denver are becoming workforce magnets, while professional services, tech, and media industries set the tone for office dynamics.

With employees blending flexibility and collaboration, the future of work will likely focus on creating spaces that foster innovation and engagement, further driving foot traffic in key cities and industries.

Stay tuned as these trends evolve—2025 might just hold even bigger surprises in the world of work.

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This blog is part of our Data Snack Series. Take a look at our past posts for workplace insights, and stay tuned for future posts.